Shoe tree or form



Sept. 24, 1940. J. B. MUTCH SHOE TREE OR FORM Filed March 12, 1940 Patented Sept. 24, 1940 SHOE TREE 0R. FORM James B. Mutch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Schelter Last Co., Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 12, 1940, Serial No. 323,614

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to shoe trees or forms and more particularly to expansible shoe trees or forms of the type utilized in connection with mens or womens low shoes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree of the character set forth above having a toe or vamp portion and a yielding extensible handle or heel portion, the latter having associated therewith a manipulating member or portion by means of which insertion of the tree into and removal of the same from the shoe is facilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree of this character in which the manipulating member above referred to performs the additional functions of assisting in guiding the handle or heel portion of the tree into the shoe and in maintaining the same in its proper position therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a shoe tree in which the manipulating member performs yet another function, namely, that of preventing marring or otherwise damaging the heel portion of the shoe when the shoe is packed for shipping or isotherwise not in use;

Another object of the invention is toprovide a handle or heel portion which is adapted for use i in connection with various types of longitudinally expansible shoe trees which is comprised of a minimum number, namely, three, of parts which are movable relative to one another and which is not at this time enumeratedwill become readily apparent as the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, ensues. i

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an assembled shoe tree showing the same installed within a shoe, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

shown in Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3---& of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the im- -3) provided in a heel member 24. member 24 is telescopically received on the former stitute the handle portion of the shoe tree.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the shoe tree proved shoe tree involves in its general organization a toe or vamp portion I 0 which may be of more or less conventional design and which, for

illustrative purposes, consists of a pair of com plementary separate half-sections or members l2 shaped to conform to the interior contour of the forward or toe portion of the shoe S. The members l2 are movable toward and away from each other and are maintained slightly spaced by,

cured in the other, being provided to maintain the sections properly juxtaposed and also to limit the extent of separation of the members. Since the design of the toe portion of the shoe tree is moreor less conventional, no claim is made herein to any novelty associated therewith. Other forms of toe portions Whether the same be expansible or rigid may be utilized in connection with the present invention which resides rather in the novel form of heel portion or handle now to be more fully described.

Referring now to Figure 2, a tubular thrust member 20 is slidably pivoted adjacent one end to the guiding screw l8 and is freely movable laterally between the two sections l2 of the toe portion Ill. The other end of the thrust member 20 extends into a relatively deep socket 22 (Figure The latter member 20 and the two members together 0011-. A pair of aligned elongated slots 26 are formed at diametrically opposed regions of the tubular member 20 and a rivet 28 extends through the member 24 and slots 26 and serves to limit the outward position of the latter member upon the end of the thrust member.

The overall thickness or width of the heel member 24 is somewhat less than the combined width of the toe member, l0 and thus when the .tree is installed in a shoe as shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the toe member nested within the toe portion of the shoe and the heel member bearing against the inside surface of the heel portion of the shoe, the tubular member will assume a position spaced from the side walls of the shoe where it is readily accessible as a handle by means of which the shoe, together with the tree therein, may conveniently be lifted without necessitating touching any portion of the shoe.

The rear portion of the heel member 24 is somewhat thicker than the front portion thereof, the effect being a tapered one. On opposite sides of the heel member 2 there are formed a pair of curved bearing surfaces 39 designed for contact with corresponding surfaces on the inside of the rear regions of the heel portion of the shoe.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, the heel member 2 is formed with a rearwardly extending protuberance 32, the function of which will appear presently. This protuberance is formed with a gently rounded rear surface 36 and a substantially fiat underneath surface 36. Below the protuberance 32 there is provided an inwardly and downwardly curved surface which cooperates with the protuberance in a manner that will also presently appear. The upper edge of the surface 38 and the inner edge of the surface 35 terminate abruptly in contiguity and at a relatively sharp angle with respect to each other.

In the installation of the shoe tree in a shoe, the toe portion thereof is first inserted in the toe portion of the shoe in the usual manner and thereafter the gently rounded rear surface 34 of the protuberance 32 is engaged by the palm of the hand at the base of the fingers with the ball portion of the hand above the wrist lightly engaging the. heel portion of the shoe. The hand is then moved relatively to the shoe from the dotted line position of Figure l to the full line position thereof and during such movement, the rear wall of the shoe slides in between the curved surface 38 and the ball portion of the hand. Sufficient pressure is initially applied to the protuberance 32 to bring the heel member 34 within the confines of the shoe and the subsequent lowering of this member into the shoe is attended by a camming action of the rear wall of the shoe on the surface 33. The camming action is slightly lessened by the pressure of the ball of the hand upon the protuberance, while the extent of pressure required to be exerted by the user is taken up mainly in the wrist, since the hand is allowed to pivot, so to speak, on the heel of the shoe itself. Very little practice is required of the user in enabling him to rapidly and efficiently install the shoe tree within a shoe.

Removal of the shoe tree from the shoe may be eifected by a reversal of the above process or, if desired, the underneath surface 36 of the protuberance 32 may be engaged by the finger of the user in the manner of a hook and the handle or heel portion of the tree lifted from the shoe without efiort.

Because of the fact that the protuberance is engaged by the hand both in the installation of the shoe tree within a shoe and in the withdrawal thereof, this member has in the introductory portion of this specification and in the claims been referred to as a manipulating member.

t is to be noted that when the shoe tree is installed in the shoe, the upper edge of the rear wall of the heel portion of the shoe engages the underneath surface of the protuberance or manipulating member 32 and prevents further downward movement of the handle or heel portion into the shoe. Proper positioning of the tree for effective operation is thus insured.

In using the shoe tree it is apparent that the protuberance 32, because of the fact that it projects beyond the rear wall of the shoe, will serve as a protection for the shoe against scratching or marrin'g of the heel portion against the walls of closets or of containers in which the shoes may be placed.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection with shoe trees designed for ordinary household or store use, it is obvious that the principles of the invention are applicable to manufacturers forms which are utilized in the shoe during subsequent shaping operations after the usual shoe lasts have been removed.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a shoe tree, a toe member, a heel member, means connecting the heel member to the toe member for swinging movement in a vertical plane whereby when the toe member is received within the toe portion of a shoe the heel member may be lowered into and elevated out of the heel portion of the shoe, and a protuberance integrally formed on the heel member and fixed relative thereto and projecting rearwardly therefrom and adapted to overlie the upper edge of the rear wall of the heel portion of the shoe thus providing a manipulating member by means of which such vertical swinging movement may. be effected.

2. In a shoe tree, a toe member, a heel member,

' means connecting the heel member to the toe member for swinging movement in a vertical plane whereby when the toe member is received within the toe portion of a shoe the heel member may be lowered into and elevated out of the heel portion of the shoe,-and a protuberance integrally formed on the heel member and fixed relative thereto and projecting rearwardly therefrom and adapted to overlie and engage the upper edge of the rear wall of the heel portion of the shoe thus providing a manipulating member by means of which such vertical swinging movement may be effected, said protuberance having an underneath surface designed for engagement with the rim of the heel portion at the rear thereof and serving to limit the downward movement of the heel member in the heel portion of the shoe.

3. In a shoe tree, a toe member, a heel member, means connecting the heel member to the toe member for swinging movement in a vertical plane whereby when the toe member is received within the toe portion of a shoe the heel member may be lowered into and elevated out of the heel portion of the shoe, and a protuberance on the heel member and projecting rearwardly therefrom in fixed relation thereto and adapted to overlie the upper edge of the rear wall of the heel portion of the shoe thus providing a manipulating member by means of which such vertical swinging movement may be effected, said heel member being formed with a downwardly and inwardly curved cam surface directly beneath said protuberance, said surface being adapted to make sliding contact with the rear wall during insertion and removal of the tree within the shoe.

4. In a shoe tree, a toe member, a heel member, yielding extensible means connecting-the heel member to the toe member for swinging movement in a vertical plane whereby when the toe member is received within the toe portion of a shoe the heel member may be lowered into and elevated out of the heel portion of the shoe, and a protuberance formed on the heel member and projecting rearwardly therefrom in fixed relation thereto and adapted to overlie the upper edge of the rear wall of the heel portion of the shoe thus providing a manipulating member by means of which such vertical swinging movement may be effected.

5. In a shoe tree, a toe member, a heel member, yielding extensible means connecting the heel member to the toe member for movement toward and away from the latter and normally urging the heel member to a position remote from the toe member, and a protuberance formed on the heel member and projecting rearwardly therefrom in fixed relation thereto and adapted to overlie the upper edge of the rear Wall of the heel portion of a shoe when the toe member is inserted in the heel portion thereof, said protuberance having an underneath surface designed for engagement with the upper rim of the heel portion of the shoe to limit the downward movement of the heel member into the shoe. JAMES B. MU'I'CI-I. 

